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Home Extension thread 2018

995 replies

Baxdream · 14/02/2018 19:05

Thought we should get the new thread ready!
Our front door is in. Long story but it arrived damaged 😫 it's in and lovely but it's going to be replaced!
Our fencing has started today, the short ones are new, the others are getting ripped out

Home Extension thread 2018
OP posts:
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theredjellybean · 01/05/2018 21:32

Thanks Bob Kate.. Your having loads more than us, plus appliances plus real wood work top... But our first quote was more.
I have noticed that we are having some same items and they are more expensive on my quote...

theredjellybean · 01/05/2018 21:33

I will be going back to Howden and firmly telling them to get it down to around five or absolutely no deal
And will do the DIY kitchen thing... Gulp

bobkate · 01/05/2018 21:34

Bax I love your library....that ladder! Linguaphile when I put my ideas on houzz I had some very blunt messages of disapproval! Although they did like my 3D mock up!

We have our goal posts up and one bloody great big steel waiting in the kitchen. The builders reckon it's total overkill but say they hands are tied, as are ours, as it's the structural engineers that come up with the size. I suppose it'll be good to know that the house is utterly solid!

The upheaval is not proving too hideous at the mo. We're muddling through. The gas was turned off today so cooker and microwave only for the minute. We have our caravan on the drive for when we can't stay in here for any longer...putting that bit off as long as possible!
Amazing we are also total novices ( having never even renovated anything before, or even redone a bathroom,etc ) so this is a total shocker. However, we have great builders so that really helps.

bobkate · 01/05/2018 21:36

Massive steels!!

Home Extension thread 2018
Home Extension thread 2018
bobkate · 01/05/2018 21:39

red glad it helped - a comparison really helps. At least you can go back to them and tell them they really are taking the piss!!
I am also hoping to use DIY kitchens, as I'd really like to lower the budget more, but want to get the design sorted before as I know it'll take an age to enter all the bits and pieces.

theredjellybean · 01/05/2018 21:48

I will try to post the pics... But can't do it on phone. We are or were having Fairford navy bottom cupboards and Fairford grey top.. Marble look laminate worktop... Very like yours but no island.
I will print quote and start trying to match up to DIY kitchens..

Linguaphile · 01/05/2018 21:49

Ooh beautiful kitchen Bobkate!

I think you’re right Whisky that it’s time to grit my teeth, grow some cajones and just make a design choice already. 😂

Jellybean I feel your pain with the quote issues!! That’s exactly what’s happened to us with every single quote and it’s just awful isn’t it? I dread getting quotes in the post now because it’s always such a junk punch. 😬

So today I visited the build and cried. The plumbers have put our vanity plumbing too close to the wall in one of the bathrooms, which means the electricians centered the lighted mirror above it (waaaay too high as well!) and now the 850 quid unit that I ordered back in Feb and have arriving tomorrow won’t fit. It’s 90cm and if we put it where the plumbers have plumbed in, the mirror will hit the light switches (see pic).

Also, I walked in discover several inches of standing water in our supposedly weather-tight lounge after a stormy weekend. I’m now losing it worrying that our house is going to be a nightmare with rain. They say they’ll fix the drainage issues, but I’m losing it right now. 😭😭

Home Extension thread 2018
Home Extension thread 2018
bobkate · 01/05/2018 22:13

I reckon I'll have many tears before the build end. That's a real bummer...( trying to look on the bright side..that view from your lounge is gorgeous )

Hopefully · 02/05/2018 04:57

Linguaphile poor you! Have you spoken to the builders about the plumbing/light switch issue? I'm sure I will cry more or less daily when we (finally) start ours.

Bobkate that is some steel! Your kitchen looks lovely.

No progress to report here. Architect has also dropped off the face of the earth. Humph.

theredjellybean · 02/05/2018 09:04

Howden now down to £5800...
Its such a joke... How can they start at nearly 10km.. And come down so quickly.
We are losing the lovely curved units though

MrsBlondie · 02/05/2018 09:28

Bobkate how much was your kitchen quote sorry for asking. We are awaiting a quote from our builder (via howdens) and its similar to yours.

We are towards the end of our build now. Single storey rear extension, with lounge blocked up and plastered too. new boiler gone in loft. Its been the most stress Ive ever encountered in my life (and Ive had 2 kids) Shock

Been lovely reading through this thread.

MrsBlondie · 02/05/2018 09:30

This was our kitchen/diner last week!

Home Extension thread 2018
4yearsnosleep · 02/05/2018 09:36

@theredjellybean it's ridiculous. Definitely try DIY for a comparison, their kitchens are great quality and they probably have a similar style, then you might be able to keep the curved units 🤷🏽‍♀️ out of principle I wouldn't want to buy from Howden's

Tika77 · 02/05/2018 14:17

Jelly Please do a price comparison with diy, it’s not that difficult and the colour choices are not limited. You shouldn’t compromise on cabinets you want.
Did you know Howdens have 2 prices? Tjey give one to the builder and one for him to pass onto you, with higher prices.

Tika77 · 02/05/2018 14:18

Lingua I feel for you, I’d have cried.... that puddle.
I’m sure the builders will sort it as they should thenworst thing will be a few more days of work.

Tika77 · 02/05/2018 14:20

The stress... made me seriously question my ability to go back to work. I’m not handling this too well.

theredjellybean · 02/05/2018 15:43

Thank you everyone for help.. But I am really struggling with DIY kitchens.. Their sizes don't match the Howden ones.. And I have no idea how to deal with it.
Howden has a 400 4 drawer until and diy onky make 500 mm ones... This throws all the other units out...
I really don't know how every one does DIY kitchen. I am an intelligent person but it has reduced me to tears

Baxdream · 02/05/2018 15:56

I just sent my howdens plans to them and they did it for me 🙈

OP posts:
whiskyowl · 02/05/2018 16:02

Just wanted to swing by and give you a hug lingua. I know that tone from your post well from my own experience. There are moments where the stress and the shitness of living with building work, just pile on top of you.

It will get better. You will sort this. The puddle will one day be a beautiful floor. Plumbing can be moved. Fixes will be found.

But none of that is really to the point, because the emotional journey is not the same as the physical, inanimate one of the house. It's really, really tough. At times, it's unbearable. You have to do whatever you can to survive those times - wine, takeaways, getting out of it all for a bit and going somewhere else. No-one who hasn't been through really major building work knows what it's like. Those who have, however, will instantly recognise it!

(A story to cheer you up. My parents are a bit shit at being supportive - understatement alert. Throughout the build they've been just saying 'Hmm' or something really trite whenever I've moaned. Then, they decided to have their kitchen redone. It took a month - one measly month - and it didn't involve that much stress or hassle. They were on their knees. They cried. They locked themselves out of the house and had a panic. They were in a terrible state. I looked at them and thought - Wow, you know what, what we've all gone through, and how we've all coped, is amazing really.

You're all doing great! Chins up, keep at it!

theredjellybean · 02/05/2018 16:11

Ooh bax you bloody life saver... I was wondering if I rang up and cried down the phone they'd help... I will ring and try not to sob and ask if I send plan and pics they can sort me out

Humptynumpty02 · 02/05/2018 17:24

DIY Kitchens are so helpful it's not even funny, they bent over backward to help us out on items for our kitchen (due 2nd week of June).

With regard to Howdens, it's widely understood that a builder who is valued, ie takes alot of repeat business there, can achieve 75% discount quite easily.

bobkate · 02/05/2018 18:26

MrsBlondie the Howdens quote for that one came in at about £9300...haven't double checked on what appliances, if any, were included.. it was mainly to give us a ball park figure before we really try to get to grips with the layout. More questions on that will follow once I have got kids off to bed!

DustandRubble · 02/05/2018 19:46

Our shower is finally finished! I can have a proper shower tomorrow.

devilinme · 02/05/2018 22:00

I've found my people. I'm living in this at the moment. Just come to bed it's a bit chilly - no roof, some windows out and boarded, holes in walls, ceilings and floors.
When it gets too bad I'm off to a Premier Inn...

MrsBlondie · 03/05/2018 09:31

Thanks Bobkat.

Whiskyowl what wise words. The stress is unbelievable at times totally. We have never argued so much lol. And neglected our kids so much. Cant wait to have quality family time again.

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